Significantly, the Centre changed course on its policy regarding lateral entry recruitment policy, triggering political reactions from Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi. Requesting the removal of the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) recent advertisement for lateral recruitment into the bureaucracy, Union Minister Jitendra Singh wrote to the body on Tuesday.
Lateral Entry and Its Challenges
The UPSC’s recruitment of “talented and motivated Indian nationals” for 45 senior-level jobs across 24 ministries, including Joint Secretary, Director, and Deputy Secretary, sparked the debate. A discussion on the lateral entry procedure, specifically in relation to reservation rules and the values of equality and social justice, was sparked by the advertisement.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh emphasised that the present government’s efforts have been directed towards making the process more transparent, open, and institutionally led, whereas lateral entry prior to 2014 were frequently made in an ad hoc way, occasionally even including suspected favouritism. But the government’s recent decision to pull the UPSC advertisement shows a change in strategy, likely in reaction to growing political pressure.
Political Reactions: From Rahul Gandhi to Akhilesh Yadav
The Centre’s decision has led to a political storm, with leaders from various parties voicing their opinions.
LoP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the BJP’s lateral entry process and stated, “We will protect the Constitution and the reservation system at all costs. We will foil conspiracies like BJP’s ‘lateral entry’ at any cost. I am saying it again – by breaking the 50% reservation limit, we will ensure social justice on the basis of caste count. Jai Hind.”
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav also reacted strongly, taking to X he said, “The conspiracy of making appointments through the back door of lateral entry in UPSC by rejecting reservation has finally succumbed to the unity of PDA. The government has now had to withdraw this decision as well. BJP’s conspiracies are not succeeding now, this is a big victory of the awakening and awareness that has come in the PDA. In these circumstances, the Samajwadi Party postpones the call for agitation against ‘lateral recruitment’ from October 2, and also resolves that it will not allow any such move to succeed in future and will strongly and decisively oppose it. The way the public had started joining our agitation on October 2, this is also a victory of that unity. Lateral entry has exposed the anti-reservation face of BJP.”
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate taking to X posted a video with a caption stating, “Congratulations! Once again the constitution won. Reservation won, social justice won Modi government had to withdraw its decision of lateral entry This decision was strongly opposed by the Congress President Mr. @kharge, Leader of the Opposition Mr. @RahulGandhi and the INDIA Alliance.”
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav echoed similar sentiments, he said, “After lateral entry in UPSC now the anti-constitution and anti-reservation Modi government has also abolished reservation for Dalits, backward and tribals in the appointment of 368 posts advertised under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education by publishing advertisement under a single post and writing that All the vacancies are un – reserved (ie all vacancies are unreserved”).”
The History of Lateral Entry
The idea of lateral entrance into the bureaucracy is not new. In 2005, the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) of the UPA administration made the initial recommendation for it. Under the direction of Veerappa Moily, the chair of the ARC, professionals from the public sector, academia, and private sector enterprises (PSUs) should be hired in order to enhance governance and policy implementation. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the idea was formally unveiled, with the first round of positions being announced in 2018.
The goal of lateral entry is to handle difficult issues of governance and policy by bringing in outside knowledge that the traditional civil services might not have. Nonetheless, the procedure has been criticised for not requiring reservations, as stated in a Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) circular, which indicates that lateral entry and deputation appointments are exempt from this requirement.
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